Firm challenges trolley deal

The city’s Procurement Division has upheld the June 4 decision by an evaluation committee to recommend Wisconsin-based Creative Bus Sales supply six new trolleys at $138,941 per vehicle, for a total of $833,646.

At the time of the recommendation, the committee had not allowed for public comment. After a losing bidder, Nevada-based Specialty Vehicles, complained, city Procurement Officer Frank Hayden called a separate meeting for Thursday, where he said he later realized his ban on speaking was a bad call and he wanted to rectify that.

Anthony Strasius, a lawyer for Specialty, said Thursday his client had lost out despite leading the scoring and coming in cheaper than Creative, at $133,900 per vehicle.

Hayden said that because this was a “request for proposals” rather than a bid, the committee was allowed to be more subjective, and “other factors came into play.” He did not elaborate.

Hayden then polled the committee, and all six members affirmed their previous vote.